Tag Archives: Drought

Education, Environment

66 Million Trees are Dead in the Sierra Nevada Forest

Pine trees killed by bark beetles.
Pine trees killed by bark beetles. Little York Close cul-de sac

I’ve noticed with great alarm the number of trees dying from the drought and beetle infestation here in Nevada County  It seems like every day, while driving around the county, I see another group of pine trees dying or dead.

There is a small about 1,000 foot long cul-de-sac near my house. I counted 27 pine trees dead or dying in that cul-de-sac.   According to various sources  we have 66 million trees that are dead from the drought and the number is growing. Pine beetles of different varieties are to blame and the principal species which are responsible are: mountain pine beetle, fir engraver beetle, western pine beetle, Jeffrey pine beetle and pine engraver beetles.

 

Mountain pine beetle, about the size of a grain of rice.
Mountain pine beetle, about the size of a grain of rice.

The following is an excerpt from the National Forest Service

The U.S. Forest Service today announced that it has identified an additional 26 million trees dead in California since October 2015. These trees are located in six counties across 760,000 acres in the southern Sierra Nevada region of the state, and are in addition to the 40 million trees that died statewide from 2010 to October 2015, bringing the total to at least 66 million dead trees. Four consecutive years of severe drought in California, a dramatic rise in bark beetle infestation and warmer temperatures are leading to historic levels of tree die-off.

“Tree dies-offs of this magnitude are unprecedented and increase the risk of catastrophic wildfires that puts property and lives at risk,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “While the fire risk is currently the most extreme in California because of the tree mortality, forests across the country are at risk of wildfire and urgently need restoration requiring a massive effort to remove this tinder and improve their health. Unfortunately, unless Congress acts now to address how we pay for firefighting, the Forest Service will not have the resources necessary to address the forest die-off and restore our forests. Forcing the Forest Service to pay for massive wildfire disasters out of its pre-existing fixed budget instead of from an emergency fund like all other natural disasters means there is not enough money left to do the very work that would help restore these high mortality areas. We must fund wildfire suppression like other natural disasters in the country.”

Between 2010 and late 2015, Forest Service aerial detection surveys found that 40 million trees died across California – with nearly three quarters of that total succumbing to drought and insect mortality from September 2014 to October 2015 alone. The survey identified approximately 26 million additional dead trees since the last inventory in October, 2015. The areas surveyed in May covered six southern Sierra counties including Fresno, Kern, Madera, Mariposa, Tuolumne and Tulare. Photos and video of the May survey are available on the Forest Service multimedia webpage.

Help keep this website going

Contact us: O’Dell Realty
530-263-1091

Error: Contact form not found.

 

 

Community Events, Environment, Lakes in nevada county, Nevada County Information

NID Adopts Drought Plan; Calls for 20% Conservation

Looking over Scott's Flat Reservoir Picture taken from my deck John J. O'Dell
Looking over Scott’s Flat Reservoir Picture taken from my deck John J. O’Dell

March 25, 2015

Directors of the Nevada Irrigation District on Wednesday (Mar. 25) adopted a series of drought measures that include limits on outdoor watering and a call for continued 20 percent reductions in water use by all district customers.

In a presentation to the NID Board of Directors, Water Operations Manager Chip Close recommended a package of conservation measures designed to meet requirements adopted Mar. 17 by the State Water Board and to ensure that NID has adequate carryover water storage going into next year in case the drought continues into a fifth year.

Urban Water Use

Drought measures in effect for users of piped, treated water include:

  • Outdoor watering no more than three days per week, with no watering during the heat of the day (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
  • No watering until 48 hours after a rain.
  • No drinking water service in restaurants unless requested.
  • Hotel and motel guest option of not having towels and linens changed daily.
  • No water use that creates unnecessary runoff.
  • Use of shutoff nozzle on hoses.
  • No washing down of sidewalks
  • Fountains must recycle water

NID and other water purveyors are being required to provide the State Water Board with monthly reports on water use, conservation compliance and enforcement efforts.

Irrigation Water Use

Drought measures in effect for users of canal water include:

  • Voluntary reductions of 20 percent or more with mandatory reductions possible later in the year if conservation goals are not being met.
  • New and increased irrigation water sales are limited to the smallest amount of water necessary for the customer’s beneficial use.
  • All customers are encouraged to use efficient irrigation practices.
  • The irrigation season, which normally runs Apr. 15-Oct. 14, could be shortened this year depending on water availability.

In a water supply update, Water Resources Superintendent Sue Sindt said this year’s water outlook is slightly worse than last year.  She said the mountain snowpack is only about 6 percent of average water content for this time of year and that seasonal runoff is anticipated to be only 20-25 percent of average.

Officials credited district customers with reducing water use by an overall 16.4 percent during the 2014 drought and said an equal level or more will be needed to get through this year.

Close said that continued conservation, tight measurement and controls on the canal system, and the purchase of an available 20,000-25,000 acre-feet of additional water from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company will help meet the district’s water supply needs for this year and next.

For drought information and helpful water efficiency advice, please see NID’s website atwww.nidwater.com.  Water waste may be reported through an online form or by telephone, (530) 271-6799.

 

Help keep this blog going
Call or write today for all your
real estate needs

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
EMail John O’Dell
BRE#00669941

Error: Contact form not found.

Nevada County Information

State Drought Action Impacts Nevada Irrigation District Water Diversions

Scott's Flat Lake. Picture taken from my deck. John O'Dell
Scott’s Flat Lake. Picture taken from my deck. John O’Dell

GRASS VALLEY – The water rights used by the Nevada Irrigation District to fill reservoirs and supply customers in Nevada and Placer counties are among those covered in the state’s May 27 curtailment order.

To address record dry conditions in California, the State Water Resources Control Board ordered some 2,600 agencies to stop diverting water from streams and rivers, including those on the Yuba River watershed.

NID Manager of Water Operations Chip Close said the district is reviewing its options. “This is another reminder of how serious the drought has become,” he said.

“Everyone has to conserve water. The governor has called for 20 percent water use reductions and we are asking our customers for the same.”

The state’s order includes 19 of NID’s post-1914 water rights, which are also referred as “junior” water rights. NID also holds multiple pre-1914 “senior” water rights, some of which date to the Gold Rush and are among the oldest in the state.

The state’s order does not impact pre-1914 water rights but includes a warning that these rights could be affected if the serious drought conditions continue. The order is effective until drought conditions ease.

Close said that considering the length and severity of the drought, NID is relatively well-prepared.

“We had an early runoff from the snowpack this year so the water is already in our reservoirs,” he said. “Under the state’s order, we’ll have to let any additional runoff run through our system.”

State officials said the action is necessary because current water supplies are insufficient to meet the needs of Sacramento and San Joaquin river water right holders. Affected agencies must certify that they are in compliance or face fines of $1,000 per day. The order allows some exceptions for health and safety purposes.

Close said NID has been carefully managing runoff as dry conditions have continued, leaving district reservoirs at near-average levels for this time of year. The district remains concerned over carryover storage for next year, he said.

Source: Nevada Irrigation District

 

Please help to keep this blog going
Let us Sell or help you buy your new home or land

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
Email John

BRE#00669941

Enhanced by Zemanta